Ethiopia working with Chinese tour operators to promote its tourism sites

Addis Ababa, January 21, 2021 (FBC) – In an interview with Xinhua, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Teshome Toga said Ethiopia is working with Chinese tour operators in promoting Ethiopia’s tourism sites to the estimated 160 million plus outbound Chinese tourists.

Ambassador Teshome said the Ethiopian Airlines which is travelling to five Chinese destinations is playing an enormous role in attracting more Chinese tourists to Ethiopia.

“We’re working with Chinese tour operators in promoting Ethiopia’s tourism potential and when the situation with COVID-19 improves, we would like to boost Chinese tourist arrivals to Ethiopia,” he further said.

Ethiopian Airlines operates passenger and cargo services to five Chinese destinations — Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou. It also plans to start passenger flights to Shenzhen and Chongqing.

He further said Ethiopia is targeting boosting partnership with China in the tourism sector as part of a wider 10-year strategic plan.

“The three outstanding areas I would like to see cooperation in the coming years are technology transfer, tourism and human resource development,” he told Xinhua.

The ambassador also said with Ethiopia and China enjoying a comprehensive strategic partnership, the potential growth of the partnership is exponential.

Chinese firms are also helping Ethiopia’s drive to create prominent tourist attractions across the east African country.

China is the second largest source of tourists visiting Ethiopia, only after the United States.

Ethiopia earned 37.2 million U.S. dollars from Chinese tourists in 2020 who came to Ethiopia for a range of purposes including conferences, business trips and seeking leisure.